Mutual Base Ball Club
of New York
of New York
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Mutual Articles
The Mutuals were known as a crack bunch of ballists and were contenders for the championship for much of their history. This lead to many articles and even a painting featuring them. Here are a few in chronological order.
Score card from August 14, 1865 vs Atlantics
Runs are recorded with a small dot and hands lost (outs) are recorded with a number, i.e. 1st out=1, 2nd out=2, 3rd out=3. Also note that only hands lost and runs are recorded.
Article appeared in
The Brooklyn Eagle
August 28, 1867
The Mutuals and the Atlantics were quite the rivals throughout the years constantly competing for the National Championship. Lipman Pike, the first Jewish base ball player, competed in this match for the Atlantics. The betting odds are mentioned several times in this article and that thousands of dollars changed hands during this match. Base ball was much like horse racing is today, odds were given and bets were placed right at the field.
The final noteworthy event is that President Johnson attended the match and while this can't be currently confirmed to be the first such attendance of a President while in office, it is most certainly one of the earliest.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle on June 9, 1869
Mutuals
vs. the Brooklyn Eckfords.
Once again there is mention of the betting odds in this game. The slow pitching speed of the Eckford pitcher is also mentioned which would lead one to conclude that pitching at the time was swift. There was argument in this game about the fact that it was called due to rain in the 5th inning. The Mutuals were under the impression that the game would be resumed the next day while the Eckfords felt the game was over. It was finally decided that the game would be continued a week later.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle June 29, 1870
This detailed article is from the 1870 Championship year for the Mutuals. Again the betting odds are mentioned and apparently changed as the game progressed leading one to conclude that the betting process was a continuous one that occurred at the game with money changing hands on the spot.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle July 7, 1870
With professionalism and the amateur clubs fighting for which way base ball should continue it was often mentioned how much players made and in this case, a club would pay all their players ($20,000 club).
This game was significant as both teams would claim the championship come seasons end.
Mention of the type of ball used in two different games is significant as there was no "official" ball at the time so a club often used a ball that would play to their advantage.
Despite claims by other authors that earliest use of the term stolen base was in 1871 it is used here in this 1870 article.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle August 3, 1870
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle August 17, 1870.
This is the first meeting of a home and home series with the Cleveland club as is mentioned in the next article.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle August 25, 1870.
In this article there is mention of a dispute of pitching rules. Also the "gentlemanly" manner in which the game was played despite the close score.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle September 2, 1870.
This game was considered a social game which meant it did not count towards the championship of the year, The top teams would often travel to towns and play these social games against the local club or in this case the aging Eckfords.
It is also mentioned how several Mutuals players switched positions throughout the game which was rarely done during this time period except in the case of injury.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle on September 15, 1870.
The Mutuals face the inventor of the curve ball Candy Cummings. The speed of Cummings pitching is referred to as "red hot".
Check back often for new additions and articles from 1871-76.
Score card from August 14, 1865 vs Atlantics
Runs are recorded with a small dot and hands lost (outs) are recorded with a number, i.e. 1st out=1, 2nd out=2, 3rd out=3. Also note that only hands lost and runs are recorded.
Article appeared inThe Brooklyn Eagle
August 28, 1867
The Mutuals and the Atlantics were quite the rivals throughout the years constantly competing for the National Championship. Lipman Pike, the first Jewish base ball player, competed in this match for the Atlantics. The betting odds are mentioned several times in this article and that thousands of dollars changed hands during this match. Base ball was much like horse racing is today, odds were given and bets were placed right at the field.
The final noteworthy event is that President Johnson attended the match and while this can't be currently confirmed to be the first such attendance of a President while in office, it is most certainly one of the earliest.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle on June 9, 1869
Mutuals
vs. the Brooklyn Eckfords.
Once again there is mention of the betting odds in this game. The slow pitching speed of the Eckford pitcher is also mentioned which would lead one to conclude that pitching at the time was swift. There was argument in this game about the fact that it was called due to rain in the 5th inning. The Mutuals were under the impression that the game would be resumed the next day while the Eckfords felt the game was over. It was finally decided that the game would be continued a week later.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle June 29, 1870
This detailed article is from the 1870 Championship year for the Mutuals. Again the betting odds are mentioned and apparently changed as the game progressed leading one to conclude that the betting process was a continuous one that occurred at the game with money changing hands on the spot.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle July 7, 1870
With professionalism and the amateur clubs fighting for which way base ball should continue it was often mentioned how much players made and in this case, a club would pay all their players ($20,000 club).
This game was significant as both teams would claim the championship come seasons end.
Mention of the type of ball used in two different games is significant as there was no "official" ball at the time so a club often used a ball that would play to their advantage.
Despite claims by other authors that earliest use of the term stolen base was in 1871 it is used here in this 1870 article.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle August 3, 1870
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle August 17, 1870.
This is the first meeting of a home and home series with the Cleveland club as is mentioned in the next article.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle August 25, 1870.
In this article there is mention of a dispute of pitching rules. Also the "gentlemanly" manner in which the game was played despite the close score.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle September 2, 1870.
This game was considered a social game which meant it did not count towards the championship of the year, The top teams would often travel to towns and play these social games against the local club or in this case the aging Eckfords.
It is also mentioned how several Mutuals players switched positions throughout the game which was rarely done during this time period except in the case of injury.
This article appeared in the Brooklyn Eagle on September 15, 1870.
The Mutuals face the inventor of the curve ball Candy Cummings. The speed of Cummings pitching is referred to as "red hot".
Check back often for new additions and articles from 1871-76.
